WELCOME TO THE NEW #SBS SITE

We have several new initiatives within the site that will help your business but to make the most of the new features we need some information from you!

TAILORED EVENTS AND NEWS

As Theo mentioned at the event we want to start organising other events and workshops throughout the year which will benefit your business. However before we are able to do this we need to understand a little more about your business so that we can tailor what events and information would suit your business.

NEW IMPROVED SEARCH FUNCTIONALITY

We have improved the search functionality on the site and have added a directory which potential customers will use to find your products or services! To make sure that you can be found by potential customers who visit the #SBS Directory can you choose a category from the list below that you think best describes your business:

Business Services

Computers & Internet

Entertainment

Finance & Legal

Home and Garden

Industrial & Commercial

Shopping

Society

Travel & Tourism

OTHER BENEFITS

Along with these benefits the other features that Theo launched at the #SBS Event are as follows:

Improved news and offers functionality on your #SBS profile which can appear on the homepage

#SBS business of the month who will feature on the homepage for the whole month

Ability to discuss posts and news on the site

Badge generator so that your business name can be integrated into the #SBS badge

David Barton Music

MAIN INFO

MY BUZZ

In August 2011, I won a coveted place in Theo Paphitis’ ‘SBS’ club. David Barton Music beat over 1,000 entrants to be selected as one of the six chosen to be retweeted by Theo on the 21st August. The ‘SBS’ selection came as the icing on the cake, coinciding exactly with the 10th anniversary of my first day of teaching.
It was very surreal: you enter, but I never expected to be one of the chosen six. I felt very lucky and hugely excited. There is a common misconception that private music teachers such as myself only teach ‘on the side’; Theo’s backing of small businesses such as David Barton Music hopefully dispels such a myth.
The selection of David Barton Music came on exactly the same day as I gave my first lesson at the age of 17, on the 21st August, 2001. I feel enormously privileged to have met and worked with such a diverse range of ages and abilities over the past decade. I have always been concerned that each pupil should have the opportunity to realise his or her potential; every single one of them has something to offer, whatever their ability. An increase in web traffic, interest, sales etc. were all a real bonus. My ‘win’ was also featured in several local newspapers and in the national ISM Journal.

MY BIO

David was born in Winchester in 1983, and has been at the helm of award-winning David Barton Music since 2001. He combines a busy portfolio of teaching, accompanying and composing both from his base in Lichfield, and across the UK.
The primary focus of David's work is providing flute, piano, singing and music theory lessons on a private basis in Lichfield. Pupils range in age from 10 to 70+ with a wide variety of abilities taught.
He was educated at The Crypt Grammar School, Gloucester, where he won prizes for both music and drama. He took a leading role in all the school’s musical activities including choirs, orchestras and chamber ensembles. He also played a significant part in the school’s productions including as musical director for Cinderella and Bugsy Malone. Whilst at the school, he continued his instrumental studies as a pianist, flautist and singer; he also gained the skills and confidence to be an effective accompanist. Whilst at the school he also learnt the organ, and in the latter years, led the music at the school’s assemblies. In November 1998 he played 2nd flute in Malcolm Arnold’s Little Suite No. 2 under Sir Simon Rattle as part of the World’s Largest Orchestra at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.
David Barton Music was established during David’s last couple of years at school, and since leaving, he has developed a successful career as a teacher, composer and accompanist. He graduated with a BA(Hons) Open Degree in 2008, and a MEd in 2010, both with The Open University. He also holds the DipABRSM in Piano Teaching and the CertGSMD(T) in Flute Teaching. He was one of the first students to graduate on the Royal School of Church Music’s DipRSCM in Sacred Music Studies course. As a composer, he holds the LLCM and ALCM diplomas from the London College of Music. He is currently reading for a PhD in Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.

MY BUSINESS TIPS

If I was to offer any tip it would be to believe in yourself and what you do. Be 100% behind it, and just because you're a 'small' business, you are not a charity. Charge accordingly and be as professional as possible.